Painting and Wall Covering Contractors Revenue Benchmarks
The average painting and wall covering contractors business in the United States generates $863K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 37,113 painting and wall covering contractors businesses in the U.S., employing 190,949 workers with an average profit margin of 7.0%.
What Does a Painting and Wall Covering Business Actually Do?
Businesses that paint interior and exterior surfaces, apply wall coverings, and refinish surfaces. Services include prep work (patching, sanding, priming), painting, staining, and cabinet refinishing.
Who buys: Homeowners for refresh/remodel work, real estate agents prepping homes for sale, and commercial property managers.
Average Revenue
$863K
per year
Profit Margin
7.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$168K
per year
Total Businesses
37,113
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$60K
small business avg
Labor Cost
30.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
N/A
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
11.2
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Painting and Wall Covering Contractors Charge?
Painters quote per square foot of surface area or per room.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Interior painting (per sqft wall) | $1.50–4.00/sqft |
Interior room (avg size) | $400–900/room |
Exterior painting (per sqft) | $2.00–5.00/sqft |
Whole exterior (avg house) | $3,000–8,000 |
Cabinet refinishing | $1,500–5,000 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete painting and wall covering business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a painting and wall covering contractors business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the painting and wall covering contractors industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Materials & subcontractors | $38 | $326K | Lumber, concrete, fixtures, subcontracted trades — the physical scope of the job. |
Wages & benefits | $30 | $259K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $5 | $43K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $27K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $147K | Equipment rentals, insurance (very high in construction), permits, vehicles, fuel. |
Net profit | $7 | $60K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
12.52%
openings/year
Closure Rate
12.01%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+0.76%
annual
Businesses Closed
11,043
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Painting and Wall Covering Business?
Startup Cost
$25K – $150K
Break-Even
17 months
5-Year Survival Rate
52.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a painting and wall covering contractors business do?
- Businesses that paint interior and exterior surfaces, apply wall coverings, and refinish surfaces. Services include prep work (patching, sanding, priming), painting, staining, and cabinet refinishing. Homeowners for refresh/remodel work, real estate agents prepping homes for sale, and commercial property managers.
- How much do painting and wall covering contractors charge?
- Painters quote per square foot of surface area or per room. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average painting and wall covering contractors make per year?
- The average painting and wall covering contractors business generates $863K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $60K per year at a 7.0% profit margin.
- How many painting and wall covering contractors businesses are there in the US?
- There are 37,113 painting and wall covering contractors businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 190,949 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a painting and wall covering contractors business?
- Startup costs for a painting and wall covering contractors business typically range from $25K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 52.0%.
Industry Growth & Survival
The painting and wall covering contractors industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of 0.8%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 12.5% and 12.0% respectively.
Approximately 53% of painting and wall covering contractors businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 11,043 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The painting and wall covering contractors industry has grown 12% since 2000 (from 97,183 to 109,078 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Painting and Wall Covering Contractors revenue with other industries: